The Best Cooler-Weather Workouts
Dipping temps are no reason to abandon alfresco exercise.
By Lexi Petronis
Hard as it is to believe, we are officially into fall! And, as the weather gets cooler, it’s time to transition our shorts-wearing, tank-toppy summer workouts into things that are a bit more…you know, autumn-friendly. Here, a few fun options:
Hiking. It’s a chore when the sun is blazing-hot, but fall is pretty much made for hiking. It can burn as much as 422 calories per hour when you’re hoofing it uphill, and research has shown that it can build the muscles in your glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, hips, and lower legs—plus give you a happiness boost.
Raking leaves. Many of us would rather not do this, but let’s face it—they call it “fall” for a reason. Raking leaves can burn as much as 400 calories per hour while working your core muscles, back, and arms—and your body will definitely feel all of the work it’s done (and your yard will look amazing too!).
Mountain biking. While you do need some equipment to do this—namely, a bike and a helmet—riding hills is an excellent calorie-burner, clocking in at about 510 calories per hour. The not-agonizingly-hot weather makes for perfect pedaling, and climbing up and down hills really works your glutes, hamstrings, and leg muscles.
At-home exercises. Really, you can do these any time of year. But having in-home equipment helps ensure that you can squeeze in a workout anytime—which is especially helpful on those mornings where it’s still dark at 7 A.M. and waking up to work out is not so much an option. There are plenty of equipment-less exercises you can do in your living room (Here are some good ones!) But investing in some at-home exercise helpers, such as the Bowflex TreadClimber and Da Vinci BodyBoard, can make it a lot more convenient to get in a workout sesh…even if you’re wearing your PJs.
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